My name is Paul and I am not your Pal!

I was a bit surprised when Grandpalash (I can never forget him), who is an Australian stood up for me against a fellow Indian. I too thought they do not show their age, and his username did. Well, any form of address that indicates age disparity between one person and the other is not a nice thing. In general, I would say nobody likes to be told you are old, irrespective of culture, gender, hair color or lack of it, wrinkles, glasses, and leg pains. lol. Seriously! My father can blow his top if I tell him not to lift somethings. lol. So uncle or not, grandpa or not, Owlwings is indulging whoever is calling him that. Frankly, I never thought Lamby was closer to my age..though his photographs are up there. I mean, in general, westerners are taller, and I put him nearer to 45 or so. And Owlwings a grandpa? That is well, a mystery solved. lol. I wouldn't have guessed his age too. I think it is better to keep others guessing the age. It can be fun. lol. Because owlwings is so knowledgeable about computers, hardware and software, I would have placed him also near about 45 because I can't believe many from previous generation know much about such things. We simply didn't have access to such things, did we? lol. But he could be a young grandpa too?

Cultural differences do take a toll but as they say once bitten is twice shy in that if one knows that different countries have different ways to address people then one should learn to do it. As for me I do not like the concept of strangers being addressed as uncle or aunt.

I have been called a lot of things both online and off and I don't mind most of them as long as they fit (or the person using them thinks that they do ) but there is one that I can't stand as it doesn't fit at all and therefore no-one should use it and that is "mate" I am no-one's mate and have no iintention of taking up that position either! I remember back in the old days and I was aunt to so many friends here. A long list at Christmas time LOL

Even my nieces and nephews do not call me "Aunt", because we are close in age and more like sisters and brothers. The great-nieces and great-nephews call me "Aunt", because they are about my child's age, and it seems more appropriate.

I could understand what you're saying if you told us where you live and what your cultural background is. Or do you assume each member knows that?

I like the Indian habit of calling all older men Uncle and older women Auntie. I also like it when people in India call me Didi. However, this sense of a universal family sits well in India but doesn't work in the west. People anywhere in Europe would be surprised to be addressed as auntie or uncle unless they were indeed blood relatives. Sir, madam, or just a polite 'excuse me' and not calling the person anything would be more expected.

I always am suspicious of what they teach I never knew until I read it here on a discussion from someone that Black Forest Cake was never served with Strawberries.

it really comes down to context and situation how I feel about how I am addressed

I cannot add to this.You have a lot of comment below there.I agree with some of them.

I would find it odd to be addressed in such a manner. But being forewarned that this is your culture, it wouldn't be so bad.

Here in the southeastern part of the US we are pretty laid back. Sir and Mam are usually reserved for people we don't know. We have a saying here, "you can call me anything you like just don't call me late to supper".